New York Knicks AT Phoenix Suns
January 7th, 2011 at 10:30 PM EST
Opening Line: Phoenix -1.5
Current Line: Phoenix -2.5
Opening Total: 218.5
Current Total: 220
Opening Moneyline: Phoenix -135 / NY +115
Current Moneyline: Phoenix -135 / NY +115
Tonight’s matchup brings together the revamped New York Knicks (20-14) against the struggling Phoenix Suns (14-19). NBA Oddsmakers have somewhat oddly set the game in Phoenix’s favor tonight, despite the fact that they have won just 3 of their last 10 games and are only a .500 team at home (8-8). New York has won their last 2 games and 5 of their last 10, and are led by All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire who is having the best year of his NBA career, despite people saying he would never be the same player after knee surgeries and departing from superstar Steve Nash’s team.
Tonight reunites the former players and should be a ridiculously high scoring game given the teams’ style of play. NBA Oddsmakers have taken this into account in setting a high opening total line of 218.5. Phoenix is averaging 106.1 points per game, while giving up 108.2 (second worst to only Minnesota on defense) and New York is scoring 107.8 and giving up 106.5 and has only a +1.2 point differential despite being 6 games above .500. Combining the teams’ collective point averages gives us a figure of 213.9, and when two fast paced teams unite, they tend to score even more. New York had a shootout with San Antonio last week in which the two teams combined for 130 first half points, and tonight could be just as crazy.
Some betting trends:
New York has won 17 of their past 23 games, but only 5 of their last 10. They are 8-3 over their last 11 on the road and have won only 3 of their last 13 games against the Suns. They have lost their last 5 road games in Phoenix.
Phoenix has lost 6 of their last 7 games and are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games and it has gone UNDER In 5 of their last 7 at home. They are 2-5 over their last 7 home games and the total has gone OVER in 13 of their last 17 against the Knicks.
Key Matchups:
Raymond Felton vs. Steve Nash
While Nash is obviously the better of the two, don’t sleep on Felton. Since coming to New York he has put up all-star like numbers in New York’s run and gun offense. He’s averaging 6.1 points more per game than last year when he played for the slow tempo defensive minded Bobcats. He’s also averaging 8.7 assist, tied for 5th in the league with Jason Kidd and John Wall. So he is in elite company at least statistically this year. Nash is still putting up great numbers despite having a relatively mediocre supporting cast. Nash is second to Rajon Rondo in assists this year and the Suns recently acquired veteran scorer Vince Carter, which will give Nash another playmaker in the lineup to ease his responsibilities a little. It should be a good matchup at the point guard position since they are the leaders of the teams’ fast break offenses. Expect both players to get more than 10 assists tonight.
Amare Stoudemire vs. Marcin Gortat & Robin Lopez
Amar’e has been very dominant, but Gortat and Lopez are both good able-bodied defenders. I’m not suggesting that they will exactly contain Amar’e, but both have the length to prevent him from just steamrolling the Suns down low. Amar’e will have to utilize his outside shot more tonight and take the slower Gortat and Lopez off the dribble to draw fouls and easy buckets.
Tonight’s game should be a very exciting one and it’s on ESPN for our viewing pleasure. Expect lots of scoring and weak defense, the recipe for NBA excitement for most viewers.
